New Design Rain Collector (Feb. 12, 2015)

 I saw on the Davis Instruments website that they have a new design rain collector. This has been sorely needed. The two main problems with it were birds landing on the rim of the collector and dropping seeds and various other debris in to the collector. Eventually, it will plug up the hole, as it is shaped like a funnel. There was a debris shield, but it was inadequate. Mine disappeared. Either a bird took it, or it blew away in to the field. It was light and nothing held it in place. So eventually, the collector will clog up and the rain reading would be incorrect, and the collector would need to be cleaned out, which might be every two weeks in the summer. I also had to put a kludgy ring of chicken wire around the collector to disuade birds from landing there. Sometimes worked, sometimes not. The new design has an improved debris filter and serious pokers to discourage bird landings. I have one ordered.